10/18/07 - Nas Explains Controversial Album Title, Denies Reports Of Label Opposition

Da Real Deal · 10-18-2007, 06:40 PM

NEW YORK — Nas says you shouldn't believe anything you've heard about Def Jam putting the kibosh on his next studio album. In fact, he insists he hasn't come across any resistance from the label.

The name of the LP has changed slightly, though. He's going all the way there: It's now called ******, and it is set to hit stores December 11.

"I don't know where that [report] came from and neither does Def Jam," Nas said early Thursday morning (October 18) in a Manhattan recording studio when asked about a Fox News article published earlier this week. The story quoted a "source close to" label head L.A. Reid, who scoffed at the thought of the company supporting an album with such a title, and also claimed the album was not on the label's release schedule. "None of us knows where that came from."

(At press time, Def Jam representatives had not responded to MTV News' requests for comment.)

The MC said he's just two weeks from completing the LP and has done most of the work with his friend and constant collaborator, Salaam Remi. Diddy, Jermaine Dupri and DJ Toomp are also expected to get in the lab with Nas before he closes out production.

"Salaam — me and him have some real chemistry," Nas explained. "He can go from Amy Winehouse to Spragga Benz to come f--- with Nas. The other cats, some of us have somewhat of chemistry, some of us don't. ... [People] shouldn't trip off the [album's] title; the songs are crazier than the title."

****** has caused some strong reaction from civil-rights activists since news of the name hit the masses. The Fox News Web site quoted Reverend Jesse Jackson and representatives from the NAACP, who admonished Nas for using the N-word as his LP's name.

"I'm a street disciple," Nas responded, quoting one of his earlier album titles. "I'm talking to the streets. Stay out of our business. You ain't got no business worrying about what the word '******' is or acting like you know what my album is about without talking to me. Whether you in the NAACP or you Jesse Jackson. I respect all of them ... I just want them to know: Never fall victim to Fox. Never fall victim to the sh-- they do. What they do is try to hurry up and get you on the phone and try to get you to talk about something you might not know about yet.

"If Cornell West was making an album called ******, they would know he's got something intellectual to say," Nas continued. "To think I'm gonna say something that's not intellectual is calling me a ******, and to be called a ****** by Jesse Jackson and the NAACP is counterproductive, counter-revolutionary."

Nas said he hasn't talked to anyone outside his camp about the title, so he was upset to see that people are up in arms without knowing the story behind him choosing the name.

"I wanna make the word easy on mutha----as' ears," he explained. "You see how white boys ain't mad at '******' 'cause it don't have the same [sting] as '******'? I want '******' to have less meaning [than] '*******.' With all the bullsh-- that's going on in the world, racism is at its peak. I wanna do the sh-- that's not being done. I wanna be the artist who ain't out. I wanna make the music I wanna hear.

"We're taking power from the word," he added. "No disrespect to none of them who were part of the civil-rights movement, but some of my n---as in the streets don't know who [civil-rights activist] Medgar Evers was. I love Medgar Evers, but some of the n---as in the streets don't know Medgar Evers, they know who Nas is. And to my older people who don't now who Nas is and who don't know what a street disciple is, stay outta this mutha----in' conversation. We'll talk to you when we're ready. Right now, we're on a whole new movement. We're taking power from that word."

Earlier this year, Nas told MTV News that he wanted to "have fun with the radio" while making his next LP. That was before he settled on the title, though. The album includes ideas and feelings he wanted to express for years that aren't exactly meant to make you dance or sing along in the club.

"Every time I get in the studio, I feel like I wanna have some fun," he said. "My fun is not doing the easy work. My fun is doing what's me. [Radio-friendly songs], that's easy work. My daughter could do that. My daughter could do the sh-- that's out. I wanna do me and hopefully some mutha----as would like it. At this point, I'm looking at the whole world differently. I'm looking at how politics could really be effective for people today, how me as an artist could be more effective. ... I listen to the radio sometime and I like the vibe of that. I go to a club, and my favorite sh-- is Soulja Boy ['Crank That']. I wanna get down with them joints, but ... [my records] do not come out like that."

On November 6, Nas releases his Greatest Hits LP and plans to put out ******'s first single a day or two after that. Despite the absence of a strong marketing push for the upcoming album (you can partially explain that because he's been working on his own and under the radar), Nas isn't stressing. He said he can't wait for some big plans to sell the album. He just wants to get it out there.

"If you feel like doing a record," he started to say about the freedom he has in his career right now, "you can't wait till everybody is ready. I used to wait. Now I have that sh-- in me — where it is, what it is, buy it or don't buy it, it's cool. Whoever likes it, cool. Whoever don't like it, cool — but it's gotta come out now.

"Everybody is caught up on that first-week thing," he continued. "That was cool. In the beginning, you want n---as to know what time it is on the beginning of your sh--. I'm past that. I had humongous first weeks before, gold in the first week, that's not important with me. When you have a record that's out there, people are going to gravitate towards it at some point in time if they like that type of music. My albums will move units, but it ain't based on what type of units they move. I'm thankful I sell records, but it's not about that.

"This ****** album is bigger than an album. This is for my daughter, when she looks back and sees all the chump n---as in the game, she'll say, 'My pops was a man.' When I have more kids, they'll see, 'He was a man.' That will inspire them to be real in their life. Some people say I'm conscious, some say I'm a gangsta rapper — it's just me doing me. I'm stomping in my own lane. I'm doing what I do."

Da Real Deal · 10-18-2007, 06:43 PM

the ****** is the N word with the "er" for the people who are slow on things.

YUNG STIXX · 10-18-2007, 06:58 PM

LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO....Nas>>>>>....funny cat right there...yet hard

Spike S.S.K. · 10-18-2007, 07:02 PM

no way this album is gonna have that title
this is just anothet publicity stunt like the whole HH Is Dead name
after the album dropped and he sold what he sold he didnt say nothing about it anymore

Da Real Deal · 10-18-2007, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spike S.S.K.

no way this album is gonna have that title
this is just anothet publicity stunt like the whole HH Is Dead name
after the album dropped and he sold what he sold he didnt say nothing about it anymore

It ain't a publicity stunt. He's taking it to the next level.

Johnny Blaze · 10-18-2007, 07:20 PM

i really doubt it will be the title, and if it is, they'll probably put a sticker on the plastic over it

rewynd · 10-18-2007, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Da Real Deal

It ain't a publicity stunt. He's taking it to the next level.

word my "nikka"...Nas is truly one tough street disciple..no homo

Nichino · 10-18-2007, 07:26 PM

im curious.. is all i gotta say

mubu_CHRONIC · 10-18-2007, 07:57 PM

lol BUY NAS'S NEW ALBUM....***SIX STARS***.....its a really banga

boywonder310 · 10-18-2007, 08:25 PM

I understand he has chemistry with Salaam Remi but damn that nigga beats aint that hot. DJ PREMIERE!!!!

~GS16~ · 10-18-2007, 08:55 PM

So Instead of the Album being Called "Nigga" its Being Called "Nigger???

#1_G-Unit_Fan · 10-18-2007, 08:56 PM

Propz cant wait to hear the single

fromLAtoNY · 10-18-2007, 09:35 PM

cant wait for the album, and its good publicity

Zhiwai · 10-19-2007, 01:21 AM

Props on this

Da Real Deal · 10-19-2007, 01:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ~GS16~

So Instead of the Album being Called "Nigga" its Being Called "Nigger???

yep yep yep yep

mid block02141 · 10-19-2007, 02:14 AM

Nas is crazy

mubu_CHRONIC · 10-19-2007, 03:42 AM

this will be good

Smithilberry · 10-19-2007, 05:02 AM

i knkew he was gunna come back with somethin like this after the news about def jam ssyin his album wasnt gunna be called that... good for nas... hes the man for that...

Dangermouf · 10-19-2007, 08:22 AM

What a boring publicity stunt

GMNRecordsCT32 · 10-19-2007, 09:31 AM

props...............

freedom · 10-19-2007, 10:53 AM

what ever happen to hip hop is dead? i think i see what nas is doing

Marky G · 10-19-2007, 12:39 PM

props...

love it for being controversal.

ima probly cop it (n yea im white lol)

Cuda_Bang_88 · 10-19-2007, 12:57 PM

props

Nas's next album probably gonna be called Rape or sumthin lol. Is he comin out with a single for this anytime soon?

Chow Mien Gunna · 10-19-2007, 04:02 PM

its a album concept u faggots

StiLL.ReaL.TawK. · 10-19-2007, 04:22 PM

im coppin it da first day..........

10-18-2007, 06:43 PM	#2
Da Real Deal Most Likely To Succeed Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Chicago Illinois/Jackson,MS Posts: 4,988 Repped: 893 Repped 2,800 Times in 612 Posts Neg Reps: 178 Neg Repped at 150 Times in 102 Posts	the ****** is the N word with the "er" for the people who are slow on things. __________________

10-18-2007, 07:57 PM	#9
mubu_CHRONIC Veteran Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 1,416 Repped: 327 Repped 90 Times in 20 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	lol BUY NAS'S NEW ALBUM....*SIX STARS*.....its a really banga __________________ "look at all the lil g-unit stans bussin a nut"

10-18-2007, 09:35 PM	#13
fromLAtoNY KING OF FAME Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 820 Repped: 272 Repped 604 Times in 90 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	cant wait for the album, and its good publicity __________________

10-19-2007, 03:42 AM	#17
mubu_CHRONIC Veteran Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 1,416 Repped: 327 Repped 90 Times in 20 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	this will be good __________________ "look at all the lil g-unit stans bussin a nut"

10-19-2007, 05:02 AM	#18
Smithilberry A.K.A. ZANY BLUNTS! Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Qu€€n$ N€w ¥ø®k B!TcH€$! (718) Posts: 14,037 Repped: 2,089 Repped 1,230 Times in 672 Posts Neg Reps: 102 Neg Repped at 175 Times in 131 Posts	i knkew he was gunna come back with somethin like this after the news about def jam ssyin his album wasnt gunna be called that... good for nas... hes the man for that... __________________ A.K.A. Master Sensei Zany

10-18-2007, 06:40 PM	#1
Da Real Deal Most Likely To Succeed Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Chicago Illinois/Jackson,MS Posts: 4,988 Repped: 893 Repped 2,800 Times in 612 Posts Neg Reps: 178 Neg Repped at 150 Times in 102 Posts	10/18/07 - Nas Explains Controversial Album Title, Denies Reports Of Label Opposition 10/18/07 - Nas Explains Controversial Album Title, Denies Reports Of Label Opposition NEW YORK — Nas says you shouldn't believe anything you've heard about Def Jam putting the kibosh on his next studio album. In fact, he insists he hasn't come across any resistance from the label. The name of the LP has changed slightly, though. He's going all the way there: It's now called ****, and it is set to hit stores December 11. "I don't know where that [report] came from and neither does Def Jam," Nas said early Thursday morning (October 18) in a Manhattan recording studio when asked about a Fox News article published earlier this week. The story quoted a "source close to" label head L.A. Reid, who scoffed at the thought of the company supporting an album with such a title, and also claimed the album was not on the label's release schedule. "None of us knows where that came from." (At press time, Def Jam representatives had not responded to MTV News' requests for comment.) The MC said he's just two weeks from completing the LP and has done most of the work with his friend and constant collaborator, Salaam Remi. Diddy, Jermaine Dupri and DJ Toomp are also expected to get in the lab with Nas before he closes out production. "Salaam — me and him have some real chemistry," Nas explained. "He can go from Amy Winehouse to Spragga Benz to come f--- with Nas. The other cats, some of us have somewhat of chemistry, some of us don't. ... [People] shouldn't trip off the [album's] title; the songs are crazier than the title." ** has caused some strong reaction from civil-rights activists since news of the name hit the masses. The Fox News Web site quoted Reverend Jesse Jackson and representatives from the NAACP, who admonished Nas for using the N-word as his LP's name. "I'm a street disciple," Nas responded, quoting one of his earlier album titles. "I'm talking to the streets. Stay out of our business. You ain't got no business worrying about what the word '**' is or acting like you know what my album is about without talking to me. Whether you in the NAACP or you Jesse Jackson. I respect all of them ... I just want them to know: Never fall victim to Fox. Never fall victim to the sh-- they do. What they do is try to hurry up and get you on the phone and try to get you to talk about something you might not know about yet. "If Cornell West was making an album called **, they would know he's got something intellectual to say," Nas continued. "To think I'm gonna say something that's not intellectual is calling me a **, and to be called a ** by Jesse Jackson and the NAACP is counterproductive, counter-revolutionary." Nas said he hasn't talked to anyone outside his camp about the title, so he was upset to see that people are up in arms without knowing the story behind him choosing the name. "I wanna make the word easy on mutha----as' ears," he explained. "You see how white boys ain't mad at '**' 'cause it don't have the same [sting] as '**'? I want '**' to have less meaning [than] '***.' With all the bullsh-- that's going on in the world, racism is at its peak. I wanna do the sh-- that's not being done. I wanna be the artist who ain't out. I wanna make the music I wanna hear. "We're taking power from the word," he added. "No disrespect to none of them who were part of the civil-rights movement, but some of my n---as in the streets don't know who [civil-rights activist] Medgar Evers was. I love Medgar Evers, but some of the n---as in the streets don't know Medgar Evers, they know who Nas is. And to my older people who don't now who Nas is and who don't know what a street disciple is, stay outta this mutha----in' conversation. We'll talk to you when we're ready. Right now, we're on a whole new movement. We're taking power from that word." Earlier this year, Nas told MTV News that he wanted to "have fun with the radio" while making his next LP. That was before he settled on the title, though. The album includes ideas and feelings he wanted to express for years that aren't exactly meant to make you dance or sing along in the club. "Every time I get in the studio, I feel like I wanna have some fun," he said. "My fun is not doing the easy work. My fun is doing what's me. [Radio-friendly songs], that's easy work. My daughter could do that. My daughter could do the sh-- that's out. I wanna do me and hopefully some mutha----as would like it. At this point, I'm looking at the whole world differently. I'm looking at how politics could really be effective for people today, how me as an artist could be more effective. ... I listen to the radio sometime and I like the vibe of that. I go to a club, and my favorite sh-- is Soulja Boy ['Crank That']. I wanna get down with them joints, but ... [my records] do not come out like that." On November 6, Nas releases his Greatest Hits LP and plans to put out **'s first single a day or two after that. Despite the absence of a strong marketing push for the upcoming album (you can partially explain that because he's been working on his own and under the radar), Nas isn't stressing. He said he can't wait for some big plans to sell the album. He just wants to get it out there. "If you feel like doing a record," he started to say about the freedom he has in his career right now, "you can't wait till everybody is ready. I used to wait. Now I have that sh-- in me — where it is, what it is, buy it or don't buy it, it's cool. Whoever likes it, cool. Whoever don't like it, cool — but it's gotta come out now. "Everybody is caught up on that first-week thing," he continued. "That was cool. In the beginning, you want n---as to know what time it is on the beginning of your sh--. I'm past that. I had humongous first weeks before, gold in the first week, that's not important with me. When you have a record that's out there, people are going to gravitate towards it at some point in time if they like that type of music. My albums will move units, but it ain't based on what type of units they move. I'm thankful I sell records, but it's not about that. "This **** album is bigger than an album. This is for my daughter, when she looks back and sees all the chump n---as in the game, she'll say, 'My pops was a man.' When I have more kids, they'll see, 'He was a man.' That will inspire them to be real in their life. Some people say I'm conscious, some say I'm a gangsta rapper — it's just me doing me. I'm stomping in my own lane. I'm doing what I do." __________________

10-18-2007, 06:58 PM	#3
YUNG STIXX R.I.P DRO Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: ON 166TH Posts: 3,902 Repped: 411 Repped 1,298 Times in 405 Posts Neg Reps: 63 Neg Repped at 129 Times in 86 Posts	LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO....Nas>>>>>....funny cat right there...yet hard

10-18-2007, 07:02 PM	#4
Spike S.S.K. Strength & Honor Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Amsterdam Posts: 10,000 Repped: 4,022 Repped 2,377 Times in 237 Posts Neg Reps: 8 Neg Repped at 25 Times in 15 Posts	no way this album is gonna have that title this is just anothet publicity stunt like the whole HH Is Dead name after the album dropped and he sold what he sold he didnt say nothing about it anymore

10-18-2007, 07:20 PM	#6
Johnny Blaze Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: T-Dot Posts: 54 Repped: 8 Repped 3 Times in 2 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	i really doubt it will be the title, and if it is, they'll probably put a sticker on the plastic over it

10-18-2007, 07:26 PM	#8
Nichino Fonky Family Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: RNX Posts: 695 Repped: 192 Repped 12 Times in 3 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	im curious.. is all i gotta say

10-18-2007, 08:25 PM	#10
boywonder310 Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 261 Repped: 7 Repped 0 Times in 0 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	I understand he has chemistry with Salaam Remi but damn that nigga beats aint that hot. DJ PREMIERE!!!!

10-18-2007, 08:55 PM	#11
~GS16~ Moderator Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: World Posts: 6,333 Repped: 682 Repped 834 Times in 198 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 3 Times in 2 Posts	So Instead of the Album being Called "Nigga" its Being Called "Nigger???

10-18-2007, 08:56 PM	#12
#1_G-Unit_Fan Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 1,483 Repped: 3 Repped 5 Times in 4 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	Propz cant wait to hear the single

10-19-2007, 01:21 AM	#14
Zhiwai G_unit_soldier_Chang Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Puerto Rico Posts: 9,469 Repped: 15 Repped 49 Times in 8 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	Props on this

10-19-2007, 02:14 AM	#16
mid block02141 Veteran Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: masschusetts Posts: 1,199 Repped: 728 Repped 9 Times in 7 Posts Neg Reps: 2 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	Nas is crazy

10-19-2007, 04:22 PM	#25
StiLL.ReaL.TawK. Nacirema Dream 09' Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Atlanta,Ga but 4rm Roc City, New Yitty Posts: 5,584 Repped: 965 Repped 1,151 Times in 569 Posts Neg Reps: 71 Neg Repped at 135 Times in 93 Posts	im coppin it da first day.......... __________________ FREE P, Remy & Max B.... This ain't tha carter...NIGGA DIS IS SPARTA!!

10-19-2007, 08:22 AM	#19
Dangermouf Veteran Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 1,223 Repped: 93 Repped 0 Times in 0 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	What a boring publicity stunt

10-19-2007, 09:31 AM	#20
GMNRecordsCT32 Back 2Biznass 11/05 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Hartford, CT Posts: 704 Repped: 169 Repped 166 Times in 28 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	props............... __________________ myspace.com/bummydavis--soundclick.com/gmnproductions

10-19-2007, 10:53 AM	#21
freedom facts man Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 643 Repped: 4 Repped 0 Times in 0 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	what ever happen to hip hop is dead? i think i see what nas is doing

10-19-2007, 12:39 PM	#22
Marky G Hip.Hop.UK.CrazyKId Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: West London Posts: 823 Repped: 271 Repped 75 Times in 16 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 1 Time in 1 Post	props... love it for being controversal. ima probly cop it (n yea im white lol)

10-19-2007, 12:57 PM	#23
Cuda_Bang_88 On That Illmatic Shit Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: VA all day Posts: 1,598 Repped: 642 Repped 355 Times in 123 Posts Neg Reps: 1 Neg Repped at 3 Times in 2 Posts	props Nas's next album probably gonna be called Rape or sumthin lol. Is he comin out with a single for this anytime soon? __________________

10-19-2007, 04:02 PM	#24
Chow Mien Gunna Baller Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: The Fuck Posts: 352 Repped: 82 Repped 26 Times in 8 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	its a album concept u faggots __________________

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode